“I don’t have anything to wear!”
“It doesn’t feel right!!!”
“Get this off of me!!”
“I HATE this shirt! I HATE these clothes!!”
“I’m not going to school!”
If these are statements you’ve heard your child scream as they twist and tear at their clothes while throwing themselves on the floor, you may have a sensory child that needs sensory friendly clothing.
Having years of experience in this department, the best advice I can give is have patience and keep trying. Let them pick out their clothes, not pick what you think looks good or cute or is the newest fad. Have them sit with you and look at all the pictures online and order 1 item from different companies. I know….”but the shipping for 1 item”…trust me…it’ll be worth it when you find that 1 article of clothing that works and you can buy 10 of it later. When that 1 item arrives…don’t push them into wearing it….IT WON’T WORK!! Once you find a pair of pants, shirt,socks, etc. they like, order 10 in colors they want. They may not be dressing as you want them to dress, but it’s what they want…and their happiness is what matters.
Ok, I’m off my soap box… onto the sensory friendly clothing companies!!
This is the first company I discovered that actually worked. For a couple of years, Whitney would only wear dresses with leggings or shorts. She has since moved onto to shirts, but still continues to stick with this company. Their clothes are 100% soft cotton with basic colors. The most they offer for patterns are stripes. The seams are barely noticeable, clothes are the perfect amount of stretch, and all items are interchangeable, making matching outfits not an issue. Because they are tight fitting clothes, kids can wear a short sleeve t-shirt under their long sleeve shirts to act as an undershirt. They also offer a wide variety of clothing from shorts, shirts, hats, swimsuits, underwear, and many more.
Fun and Function offers a wide variety of items such as lap pads, headphones, pressure foam rollers, beanbag chairs, and the list goes on. Their clothes are uniquely designed for sensory seekers. My favorites are their Under Hugger Shirt, Short Sleeves Hug Tee Shirt, Long Sleeves Hug Tee Shirt, and their Weighted Vest. All look and feel like regular clothing, but offer the tight compression sensory seeking kids want. The weighted vest comes in a variety of colors and looks like a typical article of clothing. Check out Fun and Functions other amazing items!!
A company that I personally wear most of their clothing is not a sensory friendly clothing company, but does offer extremely soft, cooling and warming technology clothes. A lot of kids with sensory issues also have trouble regulating their body temperatures, causing them to always be hot or cold. The Uniqlo Airism Collection keeps kids cool with their airwicking technology, and the Uniqlo HeatTech Collection has under layer clothing that generates heat from their bodies. There are different levels of warmth, so be sure to get what’s appropriate for your child. Both collections are extremely soft clothing, tagless, seamless, and amazing. Check out their adult sections as well and I know you will enjoy yourself!
Though not a sensory only company, these socks have been a life saver for my family. All their socks are seamless and soft. My kids prefer their Jefferies Socks Seamless-Toe Athletic Sock and can be worn by boys or girls. The seam is OVER the toes, and they are fairly thick, offering more comfort inside their shoes. They come in white/gray or just plain white and a variety of ankle heights. I have tried their little girls lace top socks, but they were too thin for my kiddo. But with anything, it’s what is good for your child…but the seamless toe is the best part of all their socks.
Smart Knit Kids is a sensory friendly company that focuses on socks, underwear, and compression undershirts. Their products are truly seamless, form fitting for no bunching under clothes, and made with high-tech wick away fibers. SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Sensitivity Socks come in a variety of colors and feel like a soft cocoon wrapped around your feet. They even offer Seamless AFO Socks for kids who require Ankle Foot Orthosis!
Primary.com is a company started by two moms who couldn’t find quality, basic, comfortable clothing for their kids. One of the most unique qualities about their clothes is the OEKO-TEK Standard 100 certified fabric that ensures it is all skin-friendly pH level so no more skin irritation. Their fabrics have been tested for over 300 chemicals offering peace of mind for parents with kids who have sensitive skin. I also really like their basic patterns, cuts, and colors, making it easy for kids to pick out their own clothes that they feel comfortable in the entire day.
